Philadelphia Fusion: Stage 1 Week 1 Preview

After seven long months, the second season of the Overwatch League is about to begin! In a new series, The Game Haus will be taking a look at the week’s upcoming matches for the Overwatch League. Here is how the first week is looking for the Philadelphia Fusion.

LONDON SPITFIRE: 0-0-0

Courtesy of Sky Sports

It’s only fitting that we start the second season of the Overwatch League where things ended This will be an intense match on both sides. While the Fusion are looking to get their revenge for Grand Finals, the London Spitfire will be looking to defend their title as reigning champions. Both teams have a lot to prove, which will make this one of the most explosive matches in Overwatch League history.

The map pool for this matchup consists of Ilios, Hollywood, Volskaya and Rialto. Last season, the Philadelphia Fusion typically did better on escort or hybrid type maps. Rialto and Hollywood will probably be the best maps for the Fusion, with Ilios being the most challenging. Then, the mere thought of Volskaya is enough to make any Fusion fan cringe. Volskaya Industries is where the Fusion were handed the final crushing blow from the Spitfire during Grand Finals. However, the Phialdelphia Fusion have been working extremely hard during the offseason. They’ve made necessary changes to both their roster and coaching staff in an effort to strengthen their core team. They were so close to becoming champions last season, they could almost taste it. Their hard work, dedication and determination will be just enough to put them over the London Spitfire in this matchup.

PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA WINS 3-2

ATLANTA REIGN: 0-0-0

Photo courtesy of Bleeding Cool

The Atlanta Reign are the first expansion team that the Philadelphia Fusion will face off against in stage one. Not a lot is known about how the Atlanta Reign have done during the offseason, but their roster is looking pretty solid coming into Season 2. The Reign’s tank lineup of Hyun-jun “Pokpo” Park and Dong-hyeong “DACO” Seo looks incredibly strong in comparison to most expansion teams. The Reign also have a wild card in Daniel “dafran” Francesca, a prominent figure in the Overwatch League streaming community. His status as a wild card will either make or break the Atlanta Reign during their first couple of matches.

The Reign have a lot of potential to be great, but they probably won’t hit their stride as a team until later in the season. However, the strength of their main tank line makes them entirely capable of taking at least one map from the Fusion going into this matchup.

The Fusion will be facing the Reign on Nepal, King’s Row, Volskaya and Dorado. Much like with their map pool against the Spitfire, the Fusion will more than likely struggle on Nepal in comparison to the other maps. However, the Philadelphia Fusion have more experience than the Atlanta Reign. They’ve become a much more cohesive team during the offseason. Their experience and familiarity playing with one another will give them an edge over the newcomers.

PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA WINS 3-1

PLAYER TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

POKO

Photo courtesy of the Overwatch League

With GOATS being the current meta, tank players will be the focus of most, if not every game during the first stage. The Fusion’s tank line is looking to come back stronger than ever. Gael “Poko” Gouzerch and Su-min “SADO” Kim are expected to be the Philadelphia Fusion’s starting tanks. While fans are hoping to also see a glimpse of Joona “fragi” Laine, Poko and SADO are more than capable of holding down the fort together.

As the Fusion’s only off tank player, fans will see Poko more often than not this season. We can expect many more famous “Poko Bombs”, but hopefully we’ll also be able to see Poko play more on his main, Zarya. Poko was signed onto the Fusion as a Zarya specialist but the strength of dive meta during Season 1 forced him onto everyone’s favorite Mech Pilot. His mechanical skills on both Zarya and DVA are exceptional; as much as he likes to joke about it on stream, he’s also a great Hammond despite what the ‘pokoThrow’ emote might suggest. Along with his tanking skills, Poko is also a great Mei and can flex to her should the situation call for it. He is one of the Fusion’s star players and will be one to keep an eye on during this first week of matches.

Be sure to tune in for the Philadelphia Fusion’s first match against the London Spitfire at 7:00 PM EST on February 14!

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